Youth Justice Services

In Sauk County youth age 10-17 enter the Youth Justice Unit (YJ) primarily through referrals made by law enforcement.  If a youth is alleged to have committed a delinquent act (crime), a police officer or sheriff’s deputy may issue a citation (fine) or complete a juvenile court referral.  Wisconsin State Statute 938 gives the court jurisdiction over youth who are alleged to have committed a delinquent act or are in need of protection or services.  The intent of the legislature is to promote a system that will protect the community, impose accountability for violations of law and equip juvenile offenders with competencies to live responsibly and productively.

If a juvenile court referral is screened in and assigned to a YJ social worker, an assessment of the youth and families needs/risks will be completed.  The assessment will determine whether a YJ case will be opened or closed and the level of supervision that will be provided.  Social Workers may monitor the behavior of youth in their home, school and community environments (juvenile court supervision is similar in many situations to adult probation). There are a wide range of services and accountability options that are specific to the youth and are determined by many factors.  

The Sauk County Youth Justice Unit is committed to using evidence based practice methods.  Maintaining youth in their homes and in the community is the primary goal. We believe that a youth’s contact with the juvenile justice system should be rare, brief, and beneficial.